You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

JovZun Author

Level 1

1 points

Macbook Pro Retina 13" late 2013 (Haswell) UI Lag

My config: 2.6/16/256, 10.9 (Mavericks)

NOTE: Outside of the issues mentioned, this computer has been great. Awesome build quality, perfect size and weight, Retina screen is outstanding, CPU is snappy, boot and wake from sleep is blazing, it makes ZERO noise, even under heavy usage it only gets mildy warm and it gets great battery life.

Here's my problem: While the machine is wonderful in many aspects, it is far from the smooth experience we have come to expect from Apple products. As mentioned in the title, the UI is a step behind and the smooth transitions of non-retina models are stuttery a jerky on the retina.

Some examples of UI issues that I've replicated on floor models at the Apple store are:

1. Putting certain stock apps in fullscreen show choppy animation (Finder, Safari, Chrome, Maps) while others are buttery smooth (iPhoto).

2. Mission control stutters occasionally (usually when one of the above offenders are open).

3. Preview of any large .jpg or RAW image will cause significant lag when putting it into fullscreen. It literally trips the entire way.

4. Swiping between full screen apps will cause light animation stutter.

To troubleshoot it, I've done a few things.

1. Brought it to the genius bar. They checked all of the harware and ran a number of other diagnostics (including resetting the PRAM). While they confirmed the issues I have mentioned, they told me to wait for a software update that will resolve them.

2. Tried things that others have reportedly worked for them: Deleting windowservers in Library, etc.

3. Downloaded "Display Menu" from the App Store so that I can manipulate resolution settings. Interestingly enough, Display Menu hasn't optimized all of their settings for Retina and choosing any stock settings (including best for retina 1280x800) lowers the overall image quality. When in Display Menu's version of 1280x800, all of the problems (outide of the preview issue) dissapeared. Animations were back to being buttery smooth. This leads me to belive that Iris isn't quite up the the task of Retina.

I'm hoping that Apple didn't purposely release these Pro's without considering the GPU's ability to offer a "smooth ride". Has anyone else experienced this? If it is indeed a driver issue, I hope that Apple addresses this sooner than later. Based off of forums from early 2013 rMBP owners, it doesn't look like that will be the case.

Are you experiencing this also and have you found any true solutions?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9), 13-inch 2.6/16/256

Posted on Nov 10, 2013 9:30 PM

355 replies

Jan 31, 2015 7:40 PM in response to Sufianbear1985

Well, because the 13" doesn't have two graphic cards like the 15". The 13" retina has only the integrated GPU, therefore no need for a switching function.

tabosko

Level 1

5 points

Jan 31, 2015 7:54 PM in response to Community User

Yes I noticed this on my fiancé's 13" What I did on her's that solved the problem (she didn't consider it a problem cause she doesn't use it in a way that it would be a issue) But, i turned off transparency through yosemite via the "reduce transparency" setting in Accessibility. Everything appears to be much more snappy.

cunni345

Level 1

0 points

Feb 2, 2015 7:43 AM in response to JovZun

Problem solved with the latest update for Yosemite 10.10.2

I'm so happy... Thank you!

Soooo smooth 😀

Feb 2, 2015 9:46 AM in response to cunni345

Hey cunni345 do you use Retina 13" late 2013 model? Because the update had no effect for me! I did not notice the reduce lag. Let me know whether you did the clean install or just an update and what's your model? And whether you turned off the transparency or not?

The only way that I can see better result is by turning off transparency and increasing the contrast in the accessibility settings. Otherwise it is VERY VERY laggy. VERY.

cunni345

Level 1

0 points

Feb 3, 2015 4:35 AM in response to delphinas

I'm sorry, I have the 15" retina 2013 and the problem used to be exactly the same. When I updated Yosemite the problem got fixed. I thought, since the problem was the same, they fixed on 13" as well. Sorry for misleading you.

Feb 4, 2015 4:24 AM in response to cunni345

I have a 13" late 2013 2.4GHz/8GB and I can confirm that v10.10.2 is somewhat improved. I would say that it's almost comparable to Mavericks performance, although I can notice that the sidebar is still a bit jerky when animation/transparency is enabled.

Feb 4, 2015 4:32 AM in response to pythogorian

And the wifi issue is still present! ***?

ciscosec

Level 1

0 points

Feb 10, 2015 5:24 AM in response to pythogorian

With 10.10.2 update lag is almost fixed. Sidebar is a little bit jerky... BUT, when using Bluetooth devices like apple mouse or/and keyboard, and wifi at the same time, wifi has a ****** behavior. it does not disconnect, but it is like dns services are down after 5 -10 minutes. if you turn off bluetooth everything operates fine. shame.....

Mar 12, 2015 11:12 AM in response to JovZun

What about the new 2015 Macbook pro retina models? Has anyone tested those out?

I see they have an upgraded graphics and processor.

Please let us know if you have used one if there is any lag on it?

Thanks

Mar 12, 2015 7:23 PM in response to punkmanmatthew

I actually just bought the new 2015 Macbook pro retina at best buy.

I tested it out but it still has the ui lag so I got a macbook air. I love the retina display but the lag isn't worth it.

10.10.2 seems to have helped some areas but overall it still is bothersome.

brsw

Level 1

4 points

Apr 6, 2015 4:11 PM in response to punkmanmatthew

I'm having this same issue. Is there a fix? A hack? Anything?

I thought I was upgrading.

I just bought a brand new maxed out 2015 retina Macbook Pro. Upgraded with 16GB ram, 3.1ghz CPU. Top of the line all the way. I thought it would be miles better than my 2012 base Macbook Air.

But its not and I'm seriously disappointed.

Graphics seems to stutter everywhere. If I reboot it seems smooth as silk, as least for a while, but eventually (usually pretty soon), it starts stuttering. Everywhere. Even scrolling webpages stutters. My 3 yr old base Macbook Air does NOT do this. This new machine is supposed to be an improvement!

Sliding over to full screen apps... stutter.

Running iOS simulator. Animation effects... stutter.

Running StarCraft. Stutters. This definitely did something to the display that made the whole machine stutter worse. Only a reboot seemed to clear it up.

Playing a 4k video. Badly stuttered to the point of unwatchable. Reboot and it played fine.

The speed improvement that I expected is non-existent or so minor that its not usually noticable. But the stutter is VERY noticable and horrible.

At this rate, I think this its going back. I'm waiting to see if the new Macbook performs decently. Otherwise I'll go back to a new Macbook Air or stick with my 3 year old Macbook Air.

Surely there must be a fix, a hack, anything? I've seen it seem to perform well. Any clue whats causing it?

Apr 6, 2015 4:37 PM in response to brsw

Are you using safari when running 4k video. Mine actually ran 4k video very well but in safari. Google chrome and Firefox ran awfully on the macbook retina.

Also this really only seemed to help a lot with the 2015 Macbook retina like you have.

Just turn off the transparency.. It helped with mine anyways to where it was actually usable.

To turn it off if you haven't tried this already just go to system preferences app or whatever it's call. Hit accessibility option (The blue icon with the human looking thing on it) Then check the box beside reduce transparency.

This helped mine quite a bit.

r0bw

Level 1

14 points

Apr 7, 2015 4:54 AM in response to punkmanmatthew

I just don't understand why Apple thought it was OK to let their software decline. From discontinuing Aperture to butchering iWork and FCP to sloppy Yosemite and chaotic iOS it seems Apple has put everything on the line so they can focus on their watch. In the 23 years I've been using Apple products, rarely have I been so disappointed.

brsw

Level 1

4 points

Apr 7, 2015 6:46 PM in response to punkmanmatthew

I was playing 4k video from a file using Quicktime.

I tried to reduce transparency. That did clearly fix it in Safari, but not other animations. Switching between full screen apps is very jerky. Its all over the place. Even the dock hiding and revealing. Its awful. I've stopped using this machine and have moved back to my 3 yr old Macbook Air.

Apr 7, 2015 7:17 PM in response to brsw

Have you tried this yet.

http://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/vi9yf/set_your_retina_macbook_pros_resolu tion_to

"retina display menu"

U can pretty much set the macbook to any resolution u want and turn off the hdpi scaling which seems to slow

everything down. You won't have the retina display anymore if u turn it off but seems to make everything more usable.

Macbook Pro Retina 13" late 2013 (Haswell) UI Lag